WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.700 Well evening everyone, let me encourage you to have Isaiah 6 open in front of you as we turn to God's word this evening. 00:00:08.040 --> 00:00:10.080 Really simple question to kick us off. 00:00:11.580 --> 00:00:14.240 When was the last time you felt well out your depth? 00:00:15.759 --> 00:00:21.280 Have a think about it. Ten seconds. When was the last time you felt well out your depth? 00:00:22.559 --> 00:00:23.679 Know the feeling, don't we? 00:00:24.560 --> 00:00:26.600 Remember, here's one for me. I was thinking about it this week. 00:00:26.879 --> 00:00:29.280 One of the first ever bits of work I got as a young lawyer. 00:00:30.780 --> 00:00:34.280 I was speaking to the person who was dealing with the other side of the case. 00:00:34.960 --> 00:00:40.659 And he asked me a question and I realized I've not got a scooby what the answer is because I'm just in the door. 00:00:41.640 --> 00:00:48.600 And I asked my boss who says the classic answer of just go and look it up. 00:00:48.679 --> 00:00:53.740 So I leg it to the library in the firm I'm working at and I find the book. 00:00:54.240 --> 00:00:58.379 Right, I find the book and I look at the front cover of the book. 00:00:58.380 --> 00:01:00.820 And I see the name on the front cover. 00:01:01.200 --> 00:01:05.439 And I think to myself, that name sounds really familiar. 00:01:05.700 --> 00:01:11.879 And then it slowly dawns on me that it's the guy who I'm dealing with on the other side. 00:01:12.840 --> 00:01:15.900 This guy has written the book. 00:01:15.900 --> 00:01:26.700 And so it dawns on me again, I'm going to have to go back into that room, pick up the phone, as it were, and come toe to toe with the guy who's written the book. 00:01:26.700 --> 00:01:31.219 Talk about feeling out of your depth. 00:01:31.219 --> 00:01:38.760 So take that feeling of feeling out of your depth and multiply it by a hundred. 00:01:40.439 --> 00:01:53.159 And even then I don't think we're going to get close to how the man in this passage tonight, Isaiah, feels as he comes face to face with the creator, the sustainer, and the very source of all things. 00:01:53.159 --> 00:01:58.399 Here's what I think we do as we come to this topic of holy, our holy God tonight. 00:01:58.859 --> 00:02:04.359 That we think we come in here, we automatically think that God is just a slightly bigger and better version of us. 00:02:05.039 --> 00:02:09.159 Right, that we're kind of championship and he's premier league. 00:02:09.159 --> 00:02:17.699 But the reality is that this God who we come to worship this evening is just so far above the things of this earth. 00:02:19.060 --> 00:02:25.000 And the call of this tonight is to feel out your depth and to come and worship the holy God. 00:02:26.300 --> 00:02:29.000 So come with me to verse one of Isaiah chapter six. 00:02:29.079 --> 00:02:34.259 Let me give you a little bit of context to this because I think it adds, takes something 2D, makes it 3D. 00:02:34.819 --> 00:02:36.939 Okay, verse one of Isaiah chapter six. 00:02:36.939 --> 00:02:39.900 In the year that King Uzziah dies. 00:02:40.000 --> 00:02:42.599 Now, Uzziah is the king of Judah. 00:02:42.680 --> 00:02:44.800 He was the king of Judah for 52 years. 00:02:45.979 --> 00:02:49.300 And in his reign, it's a time of military, great military expansion. 00:02:49.560 --> 00:02:50.680 It's a time of peace. 00:02:51.439 --> 00:02:54.500 These are really fruitful times for this nation of Judah. 00:02:55.319 --> 00:03:02.000 And so this guy dies in 742 BC because God strikes him down with leprosy because at the end of his reign, 00:03:02.199 --> 00:03:04.599 it's filled with pride and disobedience. 00:03:04.599 --> 00:03:06.840 So you've got a lot of things going on here. 00:03:06.939 --> 00:03:08.759 You've got the nation of Judah being vulnerable. 00:03:09.300 --> 00:03:11.199 You've got the throne being empty. 00:03:11.479 --> 00:03:14.479 And you've got the nations round about them getting bigger and bigger. 00:03:14.579 --> 00:03:15.979 And the threat is real. 00:03:16.159 --> 00:03:22.859 So make no mistake that in the year King Uzziah dies, this is a year of national identity crisis for the people of Judah. 00:03:22.860 --> 00:03:26.440 What does our future hold? 00:03:27.580 --> 00:03:28.660 Who's going to lead us? 00:03:29.500 --> 00:03:30.700 What's ahead of us tomorrow? 00:03:31.780 --> 00:03:32.620 Have you ever felt that? 00:03:33.200 --> 00:03:34.180 Crossroads in your career? 00:03:35.000 --> 00:03:36.920 Coming to the end of school, what's next? 00:03:37.840 --> 00:03:39.680 University, picking a job, what should I do? 00:03:39.680 --> 00:03:42.180 Maybe you're stuck in a job. 00:03:42.219 --> 00:03:42.439 I don't know. 00:03:42.439 --> 00:03:44.960 All these kind of things where we think, what does the future hold? 00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:49.760 And it's no accident that it's at this moment that Isaiah encounters the Lord. 00:03:49.879 --> 00:03:51.800 Now, come with me and see the description of him. 00:03:51.920 --> 00:03:53.020 And you'll see the point here. 00:03:53.099 --> 00:03:53.240 Okay. 00:03:53.300 --> 00:03:54.040 Where is God? 00:03:54.340 --> 00:03:56.080 God is sitting on his throne. 00:03:57.020 --> 00:03:57.620 You see it? 00:03:57.860 --> 00:03:59.500 God is high and lifted up. 00:03:59.500 --> 00:04:02.860 The train of God's robe fills the temple. 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:05.900 So this is King language here. 00:04:06.560 --> 00:04:10.259 This is the splendor of the King. 00:04:12.379 --> 00:04:14.199 Surrounding him are holy seraphim. 00:04:14.259 --> 00:04:15.719 These are not cute and cuddly angels. 00:04:15.860 --> 00:04:21.519 These are awesome and frightful looking angelic creatures who cover their faces and fall down. 00:04:22.060 --> 00:04:26.019 And in response to coming before this God, they cry out. 00:04:26.079 --> 00:04:26.560 Do you see it? 00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:28.819 Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty. 00:04:28.819 --> 00:04:32.579 The whole earth is full of his glory. 00:04:32.740 --> 00:04:33.980 So here's our topic tonight. 00:04:34.099 --> 00:04:36.599 The Lord is holy. 00:04:37.439 --> 00:04:39.000 The Lord is holy. 00:04:39.639 --> 00:04:43.060 It's the most commonly used word in the Bible to describe the Lord. 00:04:43.500 --> 00:04:50.379 And it's the one word from which all other words to describe him are derived. 00:04:50.819 --> 00:04:50.980 Right? 00:04:51.139 --> 00:04:52.639 So God's perfect love. 00:04:53.439 --> 00:04:54.480 God's justice. 00:04:54.699 --> 00:04:55.379 God's grace. 00:04:55.519 --> 00:04:56.519 God's faithfulness. 00:04:56.639 --> 00:04:57.219 God's mercy. 00:04:57.219 --> 00:04:58.100 God's patience. 00:04:58.100 --> 00:04:59.280 God's kindness. 00:04:59.780 --> 00:05:03.500 All have their origin in his holiness. 00:05:03.500 --> 00:05:10.819 It's the foundation for everything that God is and that God does. 00:05:12.259 --> 00:05:12.980 It's interesting. 00:05:13.220 --> 00:05:15.100 This holy God created the world. 00:05:15.180 --> 00:05:16.680 He created the world out of his holiness. 00:05:16.860 --> 00:05:21.680 It's amazing in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 how perfect everything is. 00:05:21.680 --> 00:05:22.680 Why? 00:05:22.680 --> 00:05:23.319 Why? 00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:24.660 Because this God is holy. 00:05:25.360 --> 00:05:25.980 He's holy. 00:05:27.860 --> 00:05:28.920 Quick word study. 00:05:29.000 --> 00:05:30.600 This word has two aspects to it. 00:05:31.280 --> 00:05:33.340 Firstly, that means that this God is set apart. 00:05:34.439 --> 00:05:35.340 He's set apart. 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:39.540 So this God is so far above the things of this earth. 00:05:40.399 --> 00:05:42.259 He is totally distinct. 00:05:43.060 --> 00:05:44.319 He is totally other. 00:05:44.319 --> 00:05:49.839 So when God says I am holy, he means that there is no one like me. 00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:52.139 I am incomparable. 00:05:52.139 --> 00:05:53.139 He is eternal. 00:05:53.139 --> 00:05:54.139 He is eternal. 00:05:54.139 --> 00:05:55.139 He is eternal. 00:05:55.360 --> 00:05:56.000 We are finite. 00:05:56.599 --> 00:05:57.959 He is all powerful. 00:05:58.259 --> 00:05:59.099 We are weak. 00:05:59.319 --> 00:06:00.259 He is big. 00:06:00.500 --> 00:06:01.259 We are small. 00:06:01.459 --> 00:06:03.419 He is set apart. 00:06:03.420 --> 00:06:08.720 And secondly, he is perfectly pure. 00:06:09.780 --> 00:06:11.520 He is crystal pure. 00:06:11.640 --> 00:06:13.480 He is ferociously holy. 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:17.800 And this means, because of who he is, that he cannot tolerate sin. 00:06:18.540 --> 00:06:22.620 By his very nature, he intensely rejects evil. 00:06:22.740 --> 00:06:27.120 And it's why that we can look on our new screens and see what's going on in Ukraine 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:31.520 and think about all the things that are going on and know how God feels about that. 00:06:31.519 --> 00:06:33.879 That he sees every single bullet. 00:06:34.019 --> 00:06:35.879 That he sees every single punch to the face. 00:06:35.879 --> 00:06:36.879 He sees it all. 00:06:37.479 --> 00:06:40.659 And he intensely rejects evil. 00:06:42.120 --> 00:06:49.359 And so when the seraphim here describe, say to the world, this God is holy, holy, holy. 00:06:49.579 --> 00:06:50.719 This is what they are saying. 00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:52.359 Set apart, perfectly pure. 00:06:52.500 --> 00:06:54.000 This is our God. 00:06:55.039 --> 00:06:56.740 And you see that they say it three times. 00:06:56.740 --> 00:07:03.480 So to emphasize something in the Hebrew language, remember you don't have bold or italics like we would. 00:07:04.460 --> 00:07:07.319 You emphasize something through repetition. 00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:12.199 So to say it three times is to say, God, this God is so holy. 00:07:12.439 --> 00:07:14.780 His holiness goes to the umpteenth degree. 00:07:14.879 --> 00:07:15.400 It's like my kids. 00:07:15.560 --> 00:07:17.439 They always say gazillion. 00:07:18.780 --> 00:07:19.000 Right? 00:07:19.819 --> 00:07:20.340 Gazillion. 00:07:20.339 --> 00:07:23.779 Now notice Isaiah's instant reaction. 00:07:25.239 --> 00:07:28.239 The first thing he's aware of is not his smallness. 00:07:29.099 --> 00:07:30.279 It's his sinfulness. 00:07:30.479 --> 00:07:34.139 He feels dirty in the presence of this holy God. 00:07:34.939 --> 00:07:35.899 Now remember who this is. 00:07:35.939 --> 00:07:37.079 This is Isaiah the prophet. 00:07:37.339 --> 00:07:42.399 This is likely one of the most devout men in all of Israel at this point. 00:07:43.779 --> 00:07:46.919 It's a huge point of application for us here. 00:07:46.920 --> 00:07:51.259 Because had Isaiah compared himself with his peers, I reckon he would have done pretty well. 00:07:51.980 --> 00:07:54.720 And it's what we instinctively do all the time, isn't it? 00:07:55.080 --> 00:07:57.620 We think about people and we compare ourselves to other people. 00:07:57.699 --> 00:08:00.680 And we think to ourselves, eh, I'm actually not all that bad. 00:08:02.220 --> 00:08:05.540 But when Isaiah finds himself standing in the presence of holy God, 00:08:05.740 --> 00:08:10.840 the only thing that he can do is fall prostrate and say, woe is me. 00:08:11.720 --> 00:08:13.960 Because he's aware of his sinfulness, right? 00:08:13.959 --> 00:08:16.899 I reckon it's like one of those crime dramas, if you watch them, 00:08:17.639 --> 00:08:20.919 where, you know, they walk into the crime scene and the thing looks spotless. 00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:24.579 And all of a sudden they dim the lights and put the UV light on it. 00:08:24.639 --> 00:08:26.740 And all of a sudden you see that there's blood everywhere. 00:08:27.639 --> 00:08:27.819 Yeah? 00:08:28.019 --> 00:08:29.439 There's human DNA everywhere. 00:08:29.659 --> 00:08:30.819 This thing is a mess. 00:08:32.319 --> 00:08:35.299 It's exactly what Isaiah is saying. 00:08:35.819 --> 00:08:40.059 I'm walking into the presence of holy God and bam, the lights are off, the UV lights are on. 00:08:41.199 --> 00:08:42.679 And I see the mess of my sin. 00:08:42.679 --> 00:08:47.439 I am nothing and I live amongst a people who are nothing. 00:08:48.539 --> 00:08:50.479 And then notice Isaiah's only hope. 00:08:52.339 --> 00:08:56.719 God's hand of grace reaches out to cleanse him as one of the seraphim takes a burning coal 00:08:56.719 --> 00:08:58.959 and touches Isaiah's lips with it. 00:08:59.359 --> 00:09:01.159 The coal taken from the altar. 00:09:01.699 --> 00:09:03.439 And see this word, what does it do? 00:09:04.219 --> 00:09:06.019 It atones for his guilt. 00:09:07.439 --> 00:09:11.879 See the word atone, it's a gospel word right at the heart of the good news of Jesus. 00:09:11.879 --> 00:09:12.659 It's atonement. 00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:14.860 At one make. 00:09:15.820 --> 00:09:18.139 Made one with God. 00:09:18.580 --> 00:09:24.700 And if you're an Old Testament Israelite, what you know is that your real sins require real blood sacrifice. 00:09:24.700 --> 00:09:29.520 But the blood of bulls and goats is never going to cut it. 00:09:30.600 --> 00:09:38.120 It's an active parable that pointed to the Lamb of God who would once and for all take away the sin of the world. 00:09:38.120 --> 00:09:50.740 You see the cross where Jesus dies, where he sheds his blood, is the place where the perfect love and the perfect justice of this holy God kiss. 00:09:50.740 --> 00:09:52.480 They meet. 00:09:53.139 --> 00:09:59.600 And the cross is the place where atonement is made for our sin and Isaiah's sin. 00:09:59.600 --> 00:10:11.540 Where Jesus took the punishment that you and I deserve for our sin against this God on himself, paying the debt of our sin, appeasing God's holy wrath against us, satisfying it. 00:10:11.800 --> 00:10:15.460 And in him we know his holy life. 00:10:15.460 --> 00:10:25.139 And so this is the holy God who, as we were singing, calls us near in Christ Jesus because through Jesus our sin has been atoned for. 00:10:25.400 --> 00:10:27.680 He calls us near and he does more than that. 00:10:28.040 --> 00:10:40.680 This is the holy God who sends his spirit to live in the hearts of all his people, breaking the power of sin in their lives and enabling them to live the holy life that our holy God has called his people to live. 00:10:40.679 --> 00:10:57.719 It's almost as if when you read the gospels, when Jesus transforms people, it's almost as if you read the subtext there that we were made in God's image and sin has marred that image. 00:10:58.779 --> 00:11:03.339 And it's almost as if God, Jesus, redeems us, he saves us, God saves us. 00:11:03.539 --> 00:11:07.879 And the point of it is as if to say, I want you to bear that image once again. 00:11:07.879 --> 00:11:11.820 The image that wants to worship me. 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:21.919 To be the redeemed new covenant people of God who live by faith in Jesus Christ, that attractive community of salt and light. 00:11:23.019 --> 00:11:23.419 Right? 00:11:23.620 --> 00:11:25.500 Take it like light on a hill. 00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:27.580 Moths attracted to the light. 00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:28.860 Light, you can see it for everywhere. 00:11:29.000 --> 00:11:34.580 I remember when we were in the Malawi, there was a South African family we got to know, loved the braai, right? 00:11:34.860 --> 00:11:35.220 Barbecue. 00:11:35.220 --> 00:11:38.480 I remember tasting it and thinking, that looks, tastes all right. 00:11:38.540 --> 00:11:40.080 And he said, put a little bit of salt in it. 00:11:40.220 --> 00:11:41.000 Oh, incredible. 00:11:43.300 --> 00:11:44.879 Blessing to their communities. 00:11:45.300 --> 00:11:48.220 Attractive community of salt and light, a holy community. 00:11:49.860 --> 00:11:56.440 And the thing is, when you turn to the New Testament, you find the apostles constantly urging the early Christians to be that holy community. 00:11:56.440 --> 00:12:03.300 Who by God's indwelling Holy Spirit, help image the glory of God to the world. 00:12:04.780 --> 00:12:07.640 And this is where we tap into our verses in 1 Peter tonight. 00:12:08.600 --> 00:12:09.800 If you want to flick there. 00:12:11.480 --> 00:12:22.340 Peter, remember, he's writing at a time when Emperor Nero's widespread persecution of Christians has either just kicked off or it's just about to kick off. 00:12:22.340 --> 00:12:27.200 And Peter, remember, this man who's tasted the grace of Jesus. 00:12:28.060 --> 00:12:30.600 This man who knows what it is to fail. 00:12:31.560 --> 00:12:34.019 This man who knows what it is to be restored. 00:12:35.180 --> 00:12:36.120 What does he want? 00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:39.259 The Christians that he's writing to, to know. 00:12:39.259 --> 00:12:43.000 Chapter 2, verse 9. 00:12:43.100 --> 00:12:48.759 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. 00:12:48.860 --> 00:12:49.500 Do you see the language? 00:12:49.639 --> 00:12:50.720 A holy nation. 00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:52.899 God's special possession. 00:12:53.659 --> 00:12:54.919 This is who they are. 00:12:55.919 --> 00:12:59.840 And you see, everything that we do flows from who we think we are. 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:02.080 Who are they? 00:13:02.139 --> 00:13:03.819 They are God's special possession. 00:13:04.360 --> 00:13:07.399 And the thing is, how does he want them to live as God's special possession? 00:13:07.620 --> 00:13:08.700 The holy nation. 00:13:08.700 --> 00:13:12.940 I guess there's three options for them if you think about the context in which they live. 00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:15.860 And if you think about the context in which we live. 00:13:15.940 --> 00:13:16.740 Three options. 00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:20.160 Option number one, they could back off. 00:13:21.400 --> 00:13:22.620 They could retreat. 00:13:22.800 --> 00:13:26.200 They could become hermits living away out in the middle of nowhere. 00:13:27.620 --> 00:13:28.820 And they could do their own thing. 00:13:28.900 --> 00:13:33.320 Come out of the world, back away from everything and everyone in society and retreat into a holy huddle. 00:13:33.640 --> 00:13:34.220 Could do that. 00:13:34.300 --> 00:13:34.980 Does he say that? 00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:36.680 No, he doesn't say that. 00:13:36.680 --> 00:13:38.440 He doesn't want them to back off. 00:13:38.700 --> 00:13:40.980 Option number two, I guess they could blend in. 00:13:42.020 --> 00:13:43.100 Keep their heads down. 00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:44.320 Just become like everyone else. 00:13:44.379 --> 00:13:45.100 Does he say that? 00:13:45.560 --> 00:13:46.740 No, he doesn't say that. 00:13:47.940 --> 00:13:49.100 Doesn't say back off. 00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:50.000 Doesn't say blend in. 00:13:50.060 --> 00:13:51.300 He says, verse 12, 00:13:51.299 --> 00:13:56.159 live such good lives among the pagans. 00:13:56.159 --> 00:13:56.839 Do you see that word? 00:13:56.959 --> 00:13:57.359 Among. 00:13:58.359 --> 00:13:59.779 So he doesn't, what does he say? 00:13:59.879 --> 00:14:03.659 He says, stay in and stand out. 00:14:05.159 --> 00:14:13.159 And so in the time we have left, I just want to pick out three words that Peter uses to help them see what holiness will look like in their everyday lives. 00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:13.899 Okay. 00:14:14.139 --> 00:14:15.620 We'll rattle through these really quickly. 00:14:15.620 --> 00:14:18.159 And these are going to be the questions that are going to go on to our discussion. 00:14:18.379 --> 00:14:20.159 So here's what he says. 00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:24.240 Firstly, verses 11 and 12, he goes personal. 00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:29.899 And he says, here's what holiness is going to look like in a body that fights you. 00:14:29.899 --> 00:14:32.100 What's it going to look like? 00:14:32.139 --> 00:14:32.720 See the word? 00:14:33.480 --> 00:14:35.459 It's going to look like abstaining. 00:14:35.740 --> 00:14:37.220 There's a verb, abstaining. 00:14:38.459 --> 00:14:47.480 And what Peter's telling them is that there is a battle raging down deep in their souls between the old them and the new them. 00:14:49.159 --> 00:14:59.559 And as God's chosen people, their lives need to be marked by a dogged determination to say no to the sinful desires that wage war against their soul. 00:15:00.059 --> 00:15:02.479 Feel the strength of that language, wage war. 00:15:03.799 --> 00:15:09.319 That's what's going on in our hearts when we feel the tug towards our old way of living. 00:15:10.259 --> 00:15:13.719 And to give in, he's almost saying, is to take a machete to our hearts. 00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:14.519 That's what's going on. 00:15:14.919 --> 00:15:18.319 So strong is the language that he's using here. 00:15:18.379 --> 00:15:25.039 The practices that used to dominate their lives, the thoughts that used to occupy their minds, the words that used to flow from their lips. 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:29.379 What he's saying is put sin to death. 00:15:30.299 --> 00:15:30.699 Right? 00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:36.759 I don't know about you, but I've never been so aware of the need to wash my hands. 00:15:38.039 --> 00:15:38.899 Did it tonight. 00:15:39.179 --> 00:15:41.059 Do it every single shop I go into. 00:15:41.659 --> 00:15:43.319 Have it in my pocket, little thing. 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:46.739 Two years ago, I was saying to someone this morning, had never heard of that. 00:15:47.259 --> 00:15:48.979 Looked at people strangely that did that. 00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:52.039 And now I'm so aware of the need to kill the germs. 00:15:52.959 --> 00:15:54.459 Every time, kill the germs. 00:15:54.599 --> 00:15:55.199 Kill the germs. 00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:56.079 We're all doing it. 00:15:56.279 --> 00:15:57.099 That's what he's saying. 00:15:57.759 --> 00:16:00.099 Same way you kill the germs, kill the sin. 00:16:01.659 --> 00:16:02.240 Kill it. 00:16:02.620 --> 00:16:03.399 Abstain from it. 00:16:03.399 --> 00:16:06.899 And don't just be about weeding. 00:16:07.179 --> 00:16:08.199 Be about seeding. 00:16:08.340 --> 00:16:08.679 Do you see? 00:16:09.459 --> 00:16:10.799 Be known for your good deeds. 00:16:11.079 --> 00:16:12.220 Here's what he's urging them to be. 00:16:12.279 --> 00:16:17.860 A community of individuals who are marked by a compelling Christ-like consistency. 00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:18.860 Love it. 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:20.100 Our friends down at Charlotte Chapel. 00:16:20.100 --> 00:16:25.779 Their motto, their mission is to be conspicuous for Christ. 00:16:26.180 --> 00:16:26.560 Love it. 00:16:27.740 --> 00:16:30.300 So in our world that says you only live once. 00:16:30.440 --> 00:16:34.180 In our world that says as long as it's not hurting anybody, go for it. 00:16:34.460 --> 00:16:37.940 In our world that says it's my body, I'll do with it as I wish. 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:41.159 In our world that says what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. 00:16:41.420 --> 00:16:44.720 And I've been in football teams where that is paraded around like there's no tomorrow. 00:16:44.980 --> 00:16:48.420 Peter says God's holy people be marked by what? 00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:49.320 Abstaining. 00:16:51.060 --> 00:16:55.080 This body of yours is Jesus's. 00:16:56.440 --> 00:17:01.279 So let me ask you, all of us tonight, in our battle with sin, are we abstaining? 00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:03.980 Are we in the fight? 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:05.860 Right? 00:17:06.019 --> 00:17:09.500 Wrestling with the Spirit's help to say no to sin and yes to Christ. 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:16.660 Does sin, as it rears its ugly head in our lives, does it break our hearts? 00:17:17.180 --> 00:17:19.579 And do we have a desire to change? 00:17:20.099 --> 00:17:26.319 And if that's you, let me encourage you that that desire to fight, to be in the game, is not a sign of failure. 00:17:26.439 --> 00:17:27.759 It is a sign of faith. 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:32.019 And when we fail, remember two S's, we have a Savior. 00:17:32.019 --> 00:17:36.700 There is now, Romans 8, 1, no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:17:36.700 --> 00:17:42.920 For those of us who are feeling beaten up by our failures, let's remember that. 00:17:42.920 --> 00:17:48.140 And let's remember second S's, that we have the Spirit living inside of us, the helper. 00:17:48.140 --> 00:17:53.480 And I take it, this is how it works out in my life, when the enemy would come at me, reminding me of the gospel. 00:17:54.140 --> 00:17:56.280 You're not saved, Graham, because of who you are. 00:17:56.360 --> 00:17:58.840 You're not saved, Graham, because of the good things that you do. 00:17:58.920 --> 00:18:03.820 You're not saved, Graham, from anything other than your mistakes and by the grace of Jesus. 00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:06.060 From what he's done for you. 00:18:06.200 --> 00:18:11.680 The helper, the Holy Spirit, pushing us in the direction of Christ's likeness, reminding us of the gospel. 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:16.480 Do you see how the battle for holiness, it starts in the heart. 00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:21.140 So Peter would say, here's what holiness looks like in a body that fights you. 00:18:21.560 --> 00:18:24.380 And secondly, this is verses 13 to 27. 00:18:25.360 --> 00:18:26.480 Peter goes social. 00:18:27.720 --> 00:18:31.920 And he says, here's what holiness will look like in a world that oppresses you. 00:18:32.360 --> 00:18:33.420 And what's it going to look like? 00:18:33.460 --> 00:18:35.080 It's going to look for them like doing. 00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:36.740 Right? 00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:40.200 Peter says, although you are aliens and strangers in the world. 00:18:40.299 --> 00:18:41.920 And get that description of you tonight. 00:18:42.019 --> 00:18:43.420 You're an alien and a stranger. 00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:44.500 Meaning what? 00:18:44.660 --> 00:18:46.059 You're not from here. 00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:47.839 But I've lived here my whole life. 00:18:47.940 --> 00:18:49.000 But you're not from here. 00:18:49.079 --> 00:18:49.720 You're from heaven. 00:18:52.180 --> 00:18:56.259 Make it your business as alien and strangers in the world to rub shoulders with people. 00:18:57.480 --> 00:19:05.180 When you do your daily business, glorifying God by being a distinct blessing rather than a disrespectful nuisance to society. 00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:07.220 Okay? 00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:12.740 Submit to, respect, honour, love both the powers that be and the people around you. 00:19:12.779 --> 00:19:20.059 So that any accusations that our society would be better off if you lot weren't around will have zero foundation to them. 00:19:21.859 --> 00:19:24.900 You know, so far as what we've been asked to do doesn't contravene God's word, 00:19:24.900 --> 00:19:34.960 I think we've got to take seriously what Peter is saying here about being a people who are known for doing good in our community, in our world. 00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:38.600 Now just what a counter-cultural attitude to have. 00:19:40.160 --> 00:19:45.600 So we've got to ask ourselves, as we respond to the call of our holy God tonight, are we doing? 00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:47.500 Are we being a blessing? 00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:55.039 I don't know about you, but I want to be the kind of church that this community would deeply miss if we ever moved from this area. 00:19:55.039 --> 00:20:05.059 If we shut up shop tonight, sold to Cala Homes, moved away to the other side of town, would there be deep mourning in this community because we're not here? 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:09.139 They say of us, do you remember them? 00:20:09.220 --> 00:20:10.819 Do you remember those guys they prayed for us? 00:20:11.899 --> 00:20:13.619 Do you remember how they invited us to things? 00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:16.379 Do you remember how they practically cared for the poor in our neighbourhood? 00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:18.659 Do you remember them? 00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:19.559 Do you remember what they did? 00:20:19.559 --> 00:20:21.899 We were just so glad that they were here, we missed them. 00:20:23.379 --> 00:20:25.379 Think about it personally in our own lives as well. 00:20:25.899 --> 00:20:26.819 Do you remember those guys? 00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:36.220 Do you remember how, I'm thinking, sorry, we want to be the kind of neighbour that we would be sadly missing the same way if ever we were to move from our street. 00:20:37.619 --> 00:20:38.299 Do you remember them? 00:20:38.419 --> 00:20:40.980 Do you remember how those guys used to take our recycling out? 00:20:41.799 --> 00:20:43.319 Do you remember how the door was always open? 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:45.759 Do you remember how they always knew our name? 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:48.019 Do you remember how they always asked how we're doing? 00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:52.200 Do you remember how they always took care of us when we were in need? 00:20:53.099 --> 00:20:55.460 We used to love having them on the parent-teacher council. 00:20:55.779 --> 00:20:58.639 We used to love having them as part of the community at Neighbourhood Watch. 00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:00.500 Do you get what I'm saying? 00:21:00.920 --> 00:21:04.059 Peter's saying be known for doing good. 00:21:05.859 --> 00:21:08.879 Are we known for doing good in this community, in our neighbourhoods? 00:21:09.980 --> 00:21:10.819 Kind of community? 00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:15.180 Compelling, Christ-like, Christ-likeness. 00:21:15.180 --> 00:21:21.519 And thirdly and lastly, verses 18 to 25, he goes vocational. 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:27.359 And he says, this is what holiness is going to look like in a job that demands you. 00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:28.660 And what's it going to look like? 00:21:29.740 --> 00:21:31.299 It's going to look like in trusting. 00:21:32.859 --> 00:21:37.319 And in a context, the people that Peter has in mind here are slaves. 00:21:37.539 --> 00:21:44.319 Now that's going to look, that would have looked different in this day to what we might immediately picture when we hear that word. 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:49.659 This would have been household servants who are working for and living with a master. 00:21:50.379 --> 00:21:54.700 This is what is going on in a Greco-Roman society and economy. 00:21:55.240 --> 00:22:05.720 And Peter says to them, because of your faith in Christ, because you serve him as your ultimate master, serve him by serving them. 00:22:05.720 --> 00:22:08.700 So be the best worker you can be. 00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:10.279 Be known for your integrity. 00:22:10.539 --> 00:22:14.019 Have a reputation for good deeds. 00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:17.279 And do your job for the glory of God. 00:22:18.460 --> 00:22:21.000 And that sounds fine, but you see how he goes even further. 00:22:21.120 --> 00:22:25.220 He says, I want you to do that even if you don't quite get on with your master. 00:22:25.220 --> 00:22:35.160 And so this isn't a direct match quite between that and our work situations, but the principles I think are exactly the same. 00:22:35.900 --> 00:22:46.279 Again, are you the kind of employee that if you were ever to move on from your place of work, that people would be deeply saddened that you've moved on? 00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:49.920 Or would they actually be quite glad to see the back of you? 00:22:51.140 --> 00:22:54.700 Are we being a blessing to the people that we're working with? 00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:57.539 Again, do you remember how they used to buy us donuts? 00:22:59.640 --> 00:23:02.420 Do you remember how they used to act differently from everyone else? 00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:03.980 Do you remember how they used to talk differently? 00:23:04.120 --> 00:23:07.380 Do you remember how they used to say that they were praying for us? 00:23:08.940 --> 00:23:13.319 I love Peter's pastoral heart on all of this, I must say, because that's not easy. 00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:14.120 Right? 00:23:14.200 --> 00:23:16.220 Being there, not easy at all. 00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:18.259 But where does Peter point them? 00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:25.180 All these verbs he's given them, urging them to live a holy life. 00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:26.920 But where does he end up pointing them? 00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:28.960 To Jesus. 00:23:30.360 --> 00:23:33.860 The Jesus that not only cares, but who knows. 00:23:35.079 --> 00:23:39.019 The Jesus who knew insult, who knew ridicule, who knew suffering. 00:23:39.160 --> 00:23:40.279 And what did Jesus do? 00:23:40.360 --> 00:23:41.319 What was his response? 00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:44.900 He entrusted himself to God. 00:23:44.900 --> 00:23:55.680 What is holiness going to look like for us as we respond to the call of our holy God to live holy lives that reflect him? 00:23:55.880 --> 00:24:00.840 It's going to look like abstaining, doing, and entrusting. 00:24:00.839 --> 00:24:05.480 And I want us to end tonight on Jesus. 00:24:07.720 --> 00:24:08.079 Surprise. 00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:11.039 Because what is holiness? 00:24:12.579 --> 00:24:15.679 You know, if all we come away from tonight is a big list of do's and don'ts. 00:24:16.039 --> 00:24:16.879 Going to try harder. 00:24:16.980 --> 00:24:19.339 Going to get up tomorrow at 5.30 and do my quiet time. 00:24:19.399 --> 00:24:22.799 If that's what we come away with, I think we'll find that we've missed it. 00:24:24.259 --> 00:24:28.139 And I think Kevin DeYoung, and he's written a great book called The Hole in Our Holiness. 00:24:28.759 --> 00:24:30.539 It's in my office if you want to check it out afterwards. 00:24:30.639 --> 00:24:31.519 I forgot to bring it in. 00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:37.099 But he says this, he says, pursuing holiness is not pursuing performance. 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:38.980 It's pursuing a person. 00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:41.660 Really simply pursuing a person. 00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:46.740 What is holiness other than living a life that is utterly captivated by Christ? 00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:52.259 And so the question I think comes to us as we end is, are we still thrilled with him? 00:24:53.740 --> 00:24:57.119 Do we read the gospels and your heart just burns as you read about him? 00:24:58.279 --> 00:24:59.220 Do you love him? 00:24:59.220 --> 00:25:01.119 Do you know what he's done for you? 00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:02.700 Do you know who he is? 00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:06.660 And I love how Christians down the ages have called him the friend of sinners. 00:25:06.879 --> 00:25:08.740 The friend of sinners. 00:25:09.299 --> 00:25:10.420 This is who he is tonight. 00:25:12.019 --> 00:25:21.200 Abiding in him, John 15, and allowing God by his spirit to change us from the inside out more into the image of Jesus. 00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:25.839 His holy God calls us to live holy lives. 00:25:26.440 --> 00:25:27.539 What does holiness mean? 00:25:27.660 --> 00:25:30.299 It means an all-out pursuit and a love for Jesus. 00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:33.599 Let me just close by telling you about my friend Mez. 00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:39.599 And the story he tells in his book that he's just released called The Least, The Last, The Lost. 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:40.740 It's a cracking read. 00:25:40.819 --> 00:25:42.539 I'm working my way through it just now. 00:25:42.539 --> 00:25:46.720 And he tells a story about going to his dad's birthday party. 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:51.240 And learning that this birthday party is going to be down the pub. 00:25:51.619 --> 00:25:54.420 And there's going to be lots of family friends there. 00:25:54.500 --> 00:25:58.279 And as part of the evening, someone's organized some adult entertainment. 00:25:58.279 --> 00:26:04.440 And so he gets to that part of the evening and Mez and his wife decide we just cannot be here. 00:26:04.680 --> 00:26:07.460 Cannot associate with what's going on here. 00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:12.299 And what they do is they get up and they head out and they go and sit in another room at another table. 00:26:13.160 --> 00:26:18.339 And so as they get up and as they go, they are met with just scowling faces everywhere. 00:26:18.339 --> 00:26:23.459 But as the evening goes on, people one by one begin to drift in. 00:26:24.639 --> 00:26:29.419 And they say to them, why will you not join in? 00:26:31.179 --> 00:26:32.419 And so he tells them. 00:26:33.500 --> 00:26:34.559 And he tells them why. 00:26:34.639 --> 00:26:35.619 He tells them about Jesus. 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:39.559 And so this party where they thought they were likely to be the first to leave, 00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:44.879 actually turned out to be a party where they were one of the last one to leave. 00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:48.300 And it would be lovely to leave it there. 00:26:49.780 --> 00:26:52.920 But he goes on and he says as he left that party, 00:26:53.840 --> 00:26:57.940 and I take it that God by his Holy Spirit impacted him so much 00:26:57.940 --> 00:27:03.080 that he reflected in the fact that as nice as it was to meet people and to tell them about Jesus, 00:27:04.080 --> 00:27:06.800 he was so aware that all of them just went back to the party. 00:27:07.840 --> 00:27:11.380 And none of them claimed any interest really in Jesus. 00:27:11.380 --> 00:27:18.600 And so he was left with that gut-wrenching feeling that they will all one day have to give account of their lives 00:27:18.600 --> 00:27:23.460 to this holy God without their sins being atoned for. 00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:28.140 And there, as we are before the judgment seat of God, 00:27:28.820 --> 00:27:30.920 as Jesus talks about in Matthew 25, 00:27:31.520 --> 00:27:35.820 where he divides the world into the sheep and the goats, 00:27:35.940 --> 00:27:37.120 into heaven and to hell. 00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:42.819 Mez is buying on the money when he says, 00:27:42.939 --> 00:27:44.939 when people come before this holy God, 00:27:45.119 --> 00:27:48.559 people will feel out of their depth. 00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:56.119 And so I think as we've been reflecting over these last number of weeks on who our God is, 00:27:57.339 --> 00:28:00.039 I think we've got to ask ourselves as we finish tonight, 00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:05.920 do we share the missionary heart of our holy God for people who just do not know him, 00:28:06.619 --> 00:28:11.119 for people who will one day have to give an account for their lives before his blinding holiness. 00:28:13.879 --> 00:28:15.240 As we were thinking about this morning, 00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:18.180 what do we do when we come face to face with the grace of Jesus, 00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:22.599 other than fall on our knees and share his compassion for a lost and broken world? 00:28:22.599 --> 00:28:24.500 You know, I love it. 00:28:24.519 --> 00:28:25.359 And we close with this, 00:28:25.559 --> 00:28:27.639 the words of facing a task unfinished. 00:28:28.059 --> 00:28:30.299 And so as a Christian hymn that was written by Mission Raising, 00:28:30.359 --> 00:28:32.059 it's been sung down the generations. 00:28:32.159 --> 00:28:33.740 And I think it captures it so well. 00:28:35.619 --> 00:28:38.959 Facing a task unfinished that drives us to our knees, 00:28:40.059 --> 00:28:43.599 a need that undiminished rebukes our slothful ease. 00:28:44.039 --> 00:28:45.980 We who rejoice to know thee, 00:28:46.419 --> 00:28:48.599 renew before thy throne 00:28:48.599 --> 00:28:53.399 the solemn pledge we owe thee to go and make thee known. 00:28:53.439 --> 00:28:57.639 This is our holy God tonight who calls us to come and worship him, 00:28:57.759 --> 00:28:58.659 come and know him, 00:28:58.859 --> 00:29:01.799 and share his heart for the peoples of the world. 00:29:02.719 --> 00:29:04.500 So let's just have a moment of silence 00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:07.639 and then Pete's going to come up and we'll move on with the evening. 00:29:08.159 --> 00:29:08.779 Let me pray. 00:29:12.119 --> 00:29:13.480 So Heavenly Father, Lord, 00:29:13.480 --> 00:29:17.740 we would just want to repent of our small ideas of who you are. 00:29:18.599 --> 00:29:22.359 And we would want to just plead with you, Lord, 00:29:22.439 --> 00:29:26.379 longing that you would lift our eyes to the greatness, 00:29:27.599 --> 00:29:28.839 your greatness, 00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:32.000 the one that Isaiah saw where he fell on his face, 00:29:32.279 --> 00:29:34.639 the one where the seraphim declared, 00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:35.919 holy, holy, holy. 00:29:36.059 --> 00:29:38.019 Father, remind us of who you are tonight. 00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:42.379 I thank you that you are the holy God who has come near in Christ. 00:29:42.380 --> 00:29:44.140 Thank you, Lord, 00:29:44.180 --> 00:29:47.840 for your love for a broken and a dying world. 00:29:49.240 --> 00:29:49.840 So Father, 00:29:49.900 --> 00:29:54.660 I pray tonight that you would help us to live holy lives as we respond to your greatness. 00:29:54.900 --> 00:29:55.940 Lord, would you challenge us, 00:29:56.060 --> 00:29:56.680 convict us, 00:29:56.840 --> 00:29:57.320 shape us, 00:29:57.520 --> 00:29:58.100 mold us. 00:29:59.160 --> 00:29:59.300 Lord, 00:29:59.360 --> 00:30:04.940 would we come to know something more of that heart of Jesus 00:30:04.940 --> 00:30:08.539 who had compassion on people 00:30:08.539 --> 00:30:11.360 and he looked on them helpless 00:30:11.360 --> 00:30:15.200 and commented that they were like sheep without a shepherd. 00:30:16.720 --> 00:30:17.340 Our Father, 00:30:17.400 --> 00:30:19.240 we thank you for your great love for us tonight. 00:30:20.759 --> 00:30:24.180 And we pray all these things and commit ourselves to you now, Lord. 00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:25.279 Be with us as we chat, 00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:26.920 as we discuss, 00:30:27.400 --> 00:30:28.340 as we laugh, 00:30:28.339 --> 00:30:29.079 as we pray, 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:29.879 as we cry. 00:30:30.059 --> 00:30:30.240 Father, 00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:31.359 be with us as we ask 00:30:31.359 --> 00:30:33.879 for the remainder of this evening. 00:30:33.980 --> 00:30:34.679 In Jesus' name. 00:30:35.299 --> 00:30:35.619 Amen.